The most direct way for countries to ensure good building airtightness is to define mandatory requirements with maximum allowable air leakage. This is done by some countries such as Norway, Germany and the Netherlands for all buildings, and France, Spain, … Continue reading →
A building airtightness test is a method for directly measuring the air leakage rate created by leakages in a building enclosure or component. A building airtightness test is a method for directly measuring the amount of airflow created by leakages … Continue reading →
Detecting the location of leakages in the building envelope is useful in order to reduce the leakage area of the envelope and/or to estimate the leakage distribution of buildings [2]. Blower doors are very useful to find leaks [1]. The … Continue reading →
The recommended calibration for building airtightness measuring devices should follow the manufacturers recommendation as well as the governing body or standard being adhered to. The recommended calibration for building airtightness measuring devices depends on the manufacturer's specifications. It is typically … Continue reading →
Existing methods to estimate building airtightness include: Fan pressurization, multi point test Fan pressurization, single point test Pulse test Tracer gas test Fan pressurization, multi point [1],[2] From a multi point pressurization test the airflow through the leakages in the building … Continue reading →
Calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be … Continue reading →
In Europe, there are various quality frameworks to qualify building airtightness testers 1,2,3,4, including: Country Competent scheme operator Mandatory for testers? References Belgium (Flanders) BCCA Yes BCCA , [5] Czech Republic A.BD_CZ (Association Blower Door CZ) No A.BD_CZ Denmark DS certification ? Danske … Continue reading →
A calibration should be carried out by an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab. Sometimes in some specific context it is allowed to have the calibration done by: a lab that has standards traceable to ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibrations the manufacturer the … Continue reading →
Overall most of products are tested according to EN12114 (air permeability of building components) or EN 1026 (airtightness of windows) either internally or externally. The most known way of certifying products is through Passive House Institute in Germany [1], the … Continue reading →
Poor building airtightness results in excessive air infiltration and resultant uncontrolled energy loss. The energy use increase is dependent on the infiltration flow rate and the amount of conditioning of the air that is necessary to achieve thermal comfort. The infiltration … Continue reading →
